Monday, March 26, 2012

I hope we are doing well, the weather is fabulous now-hurray for working without a jacket- finally. The best part is that I don't have any of the anxiety that a 120 degree summer is coming- it stays pretty much perfect until October.

This week was pretty slow but we met with some new potentials that have me all excited. Along with a referral this morning that said, "I really want to meet soon. Like tomorrow. Can we meet tomorrow?" (The answer was yes, btw. It always is) I am just super pumped for this week! Ever since I got to Žilina its been a challenge to get the ball rolling. But now it is. I am convinced its because we finally started cleaning up the membership records. During Branch Council we identified about 15 names who don't even live in the boundaries of the branch (one in Mongolia, what??) and a couple who have already died. In the Book of Mormon there is a part where (I think Alma) cleans up the records of the church and the church was able to grow as a result. I know the same thing will happen here.

The past couple of days have been really good for me. Sometimes I just find myself smiling. Why am I so happy?? The work here is impossibly slow and I feel like I am just running into one brick wall after another. But I am happy because I am confident in who I am. I know who I worship and He helps us every single day. The atonement of Christ is probably the most underrated and under utilized tool in the entire world and I am SO happy I get to be out here telling everyone about it! And me sharing that wont end in September. I promise you that. :)

I hope things on the home front are going well. Its a shame you were cheated out of the Mr. Highland title, Aaron. It sounded like you deserved it. There is always next year and I'm sure you will come up with something that will top the ribbon dance. Good luck though. I'm waiting for the updated bicep measurement. Ill have you know I exercise everyday and will always have bigger arms than you.

I'm sure I am forgetting something. Hope the Hunger Games lived up to its hype Catherine and that you get to work EVERY week at EFY Morgan. Pozdravujem všetkých doma. And congrats to Chad and Hilary on the healthy baby girl, Norah. I'm sure shes adorable.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

It's aloha because I just got a postcard from Hawaii-- thanks Aunt Patti and Uncle Steve!

The weather has been fabulous lately- even worked without a coat on Saturday. But now it's looking quite gloomy today, like it might rain. It's a good chill-out-in-a-chair-reading weather. Good thing it's p-day, and by reading I mean Jesus the Christ :)

The past couple days have been quite uneventful. Elder Johnson and I are trying to do some inactive work. We went over the branch list in Branch Council yesterday and there are so many people who no longer want any contact with the church at all. It's all so weird to me. What happened to these people? They all agreed to be baptized not too long ago and within a few months or years they just stop coming and then want nothing to do with us. It all comes down, I think, in our desire to follow through. If we don't keep reading the Book of Mormon or go to church or pray we'll lose that desire to stay active.

As a district, under the absolutely brilliant district leader Elder Williams (not me :), we are reading the Book of Mormon together this transfer. It's about 10 pages a day for the next 9 weeks. So far I have gotten so much out of it. I never want personal study to end and the positive feelings I get push me through the day. Sometimes, it's just those personal studies that keep me driven. I would be absolutely lost without that book. And I want the world to know about it!

I hope everything is perfect for you all! I will talk to you next week :)

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

So I'm sure you are all wondering about transfers. Don't worry, I'm still in Zilina so letters can still go to that address. (Kevin, I got your letter. It was a beautiful sight for me)Elder Robison has left me. And Elder Johnson has taken his place. He's from Provo and this is his third transfer. The district hasn't really changed- Elder Peterson is still here, and he is serving with Elder Sell, who used to be in Trencin. Elder Romero left to be a big bad Zone Leader in Zvolen, and then Elder Williams (I know, right, another one) is serving with Elder Loynes in Trencin. He is one of those Czech missionaries and is my new mission hero. (Not just because he has a great name.) It will be an exciting transfer for sure. I'm expecting a lot of growth in this town.

The past weekend was AMAZING. On Saturday Elder Meredith and I traveled to Prague to go to the Priesthood leadership conference with Elder Christofferson. It was very good. Elder Causse of the 70 accompanied him. President Irwin introduced the mission vision for having a stake in 5 years and Elder Christofferson talked about hometeaching. (I felt ahead of the game a little bit, seeing as the Sunday before I also harped about hometeaching in Priesthood) And then we also saw the Adult session that night with the Causses and the Christoffersons. Elder and Sister Causse were great and Elder Christofferson lived up to my expectations. Turns out you can expect an Apostle to deliver. Sunday morning was our general session of conference for all of the members. We managed to get our two investigators there. They LOVED it. It was so good. And then after that was the session with just the missionaries. Elder Christofferson's son, Peter, came with him who served in this mission 17 years ago. He spoke a little to us and he nailed a lot of things on the head about work in these countries. When Elder Christofferson spoke with us he turned it into a sort of question and answer time. It was just a cool experience for me listening to an Apostle of Jesus Christ. They are incredibly human, with extraordinary callings. He gained all of his knowledge and faith the same way the rest of need to. Prayer and scripture study.

It was really nice to be with the whole mission again. We don't do it very often- it just too expensive I think. I got to see Sis. Anderson and Bartholomew before they left. And Elder Nichol (who is now an Assistant! Brother Van de Graf, he really became the first Slovak AP!)

I hope everyone is doing well, where ever you are. I love it out here and I'll be forever grateful that I decided to follow the call to serve. There is nothing more worthwhile for me to be doing at this point in my life and I really can't wait to do it again. (Gimmie like 40 years. I can't wait to be a senior missionary.)

Love you all!!

Elder Williams

PS dear Emily, get used to weeks where you have no emails or letters. Guilt trips don't work.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Hope all is well with everyone. We had a nice week-- warmer weather in our sights and an exciting week ahead. ELDER CHRISTOFFERSON!!

Nothing really new to report. We're looking at our last week of the transfer, which is always exciting. I just love transfers. It's a new boost to get things rolling again. I thought it would get tiring being in the same city for a long time-- but I'm looking forward to the coming weeks/months. Yesterday I taught priesthood and talked all about home teaching and how we need to get the ball moving on that if we want to get ready for a Stake somewhere in the mission in 5 years. I imagine it was a similar experience to the early church when Joseph Smith told the entire priesthood body at the time that the church would fill the entire earth. I'm trying to get these members to see that the church will fill the entire country with enough priesthood holders for a stake. Right now, in Žilina we have 2 active priesthood holders. But like the prophet said, it will happen because it's happening.

I feel for you Emily, we've ran into a lot of people this week who just seemed to waste our time. It's all a weeding process to those that are elect.

I'll be thinking and praying for you Uncle Randy. But if you were promised to be healed, then I'm not worried about it. ;) Congrats to Nicole on the wedding! It's coming up! Man, did that happen fast, or have I just been out of the loop?? I got the Christmas card and picture from the Birds and I'm in the process of responding. Aunt Cyndi, Uncle Randy, your family like tripled in size.

Hope all is well for you all back home! I'll talk to you next week (on Wednesday! Remember transfers? Ale neboj sa, I'll still be here.)

Elder Williams

Which reminds me, I'll miss Catherine's birthday on the 12! Happy Birthday! (You'll get another shout out I'm sure...:)